[Night Fury]

Night Fury's Feedback

Preface:
Hello all. I believe there comes a time in each user’s journey where they should voice their feedback in this section, and today I would like to enjoy that honor. Before I begin, I must say that we’re an extremely lucky bunch. Not many other platforms offer forms of feedback that are open to discussion. It’s a privilege we’re even allowed to do this, and the fact that the owner of the forum allows us to do this should not be taken lightly. Many other sites won’t hear anything from their users, but this admin proves he’s different.


Introduction:
Like many of you, I found Hack Forums through its marketplace. I was looking for short gamertags, and a quick search through Google landed me on a site I knew nothing about. Before that search, I had never heard of Hack Forums. Although I did not appreciate everything the site offered at first, that changed later in life.

Last Summer, I found myself bored with life. I had played the games I wanted to play, and seen the movies I wanted to see. I felt there was a bit of a void in my existence, and decided that I could fill some of that time by looking at the gamertag discussion on HF. The visits to this site had always been infrequent beforehand, but the new routine of checking the site every day grew to be comforting. My account was doing fairly well for a regular account, and people had offered some nice words about my forum behavior. As time passed, I shifted away from the gamertag section in order to see what else the site offered. The more I explored, the more a sense of community I could see. Upon realizing the strong sense of community the site offered, I took the plunge and upgraded to l33t. Shortly thereafter, I upgraded to Ub3r. After receiving that notice of acceptance, I felt like a full-fledged member of the community. That feeling of acceptance encouraged me to stay, and my great journey began. In total, it’s been slightly over a year of browsing HF frequently, and it’s been an absolute pleasure.


Site:
Hack Forums offers much to its users. Here you can find a sense of community, access to knowledge, relationship potential, a sense of belonging, room for progress, a chance at profit, and much more. It feels as though anything the internet offers can be found through HF.

This forum is a collection of like-minded individuals with a passion for technology. What I enjoy is that something always seems to be going on here. This forum thrives off the leadership it has and the activity it receives. The activity here is so great that it extends far beyond the platform. You’ll find that many of your fellow HF members have an account on other networking services and are actively engaged there as well.

Given the present time, I would say the forum is in good standing. Members post, threads circulate, and the discussion continues. This forum works because it has activity. The condition of the forum, outside of infrastructure, is totally our doing. With that in mind, please do your best to contribute to activity, as that contributes to the well-being of the site. You don’t have to put out a lengthy guide; simply responding to a thread does some good for the forum. A forum operates on the exchange of ideas, and even right now, you reading this means you’re engaged in that exchange. I know it’s easier to remain in the shadows, but lurking without contributing does little to fuel discussion. If you join in on the discussion, you may even find that others enjoy what you have to say.

As far as what our admin controls, he has provided us excellent service. From the posts I have read, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to keep us safe. Still, even with all that security, the site loads quickly and experiences little downtime. You have to give the admin props for overcoming all these obstacles.

On the frontend, we are given an assortment of tools to keep us safe. I am not aware of any other site that offers a trust-scan feature. Reputation exists on other sites, but the admin took the time to implement additional features on HF that can potentially make our time here that much safer. Moreover, we have a section on the site that is dedicated to marketplace discussions and deal disputes. When it comes to the internet, there is an inherent risk in dealings; dealing with caution is almost a proverb, yet this site seems to offer about the safest environment for trading that’s not through an official entity. We on HF have it better than most online. This site is a cut above the rest.


Community:
There is beauty to be found in HF. I think what I love most is that we all start with nothing. Everyone is an equal here, and nothing is inherited. Who you become is solely based on your actions. You have the opportunity to shape your legacy.

Much of my first year as an Ub3r was spent being active in the common and group tabs. I believe exploring those sections has allowed me to get a good feel for the people that make up this community, and it has truly been an amazing experience. There are people from all over the world that use this site, and despite the ideological differences that many nations face, we are all able to unite around the vision of Hack Forums. English may be the official language of this site, but you would be hard-pressed to not encounter someone that speaks a second language here. The diversity of HF is so great, and I would not have it any other way.

When you join this forum, where you land plays a big role in determining your future relationships. Unless someone referred you to HF, we all start with zero friends. That was where I once stood. Based on the relationships I have now, I would not trade them for anything. There is much of the community that I have not met because there are numerous sections, but hopefully with time I’ll have the chance to meet them, too. Generally, meeting new people here seems to be a rewarding experience. My advice to everyone is to expand your horizons and reach out to those interesting members you have yet to meet.

Lastly, one of the great things that HF offers is the feeling of belonging. It’s a place where you can post your opinion, and people will read what you have to say. This alone is special because many people in the world will disregard what others have to say, but not here. When posts are made on HF, they are all treated equally. Some websites prioritize certain comments, and that leads to many comments being ignored, but that does not happen here. Chronological order makes it so that no one’s word is treated as more important than that of anyone else. HF’s forum structure is so great because we all get a chance at voicing our opinions and being heard.

[Night Fury]

Profile:

Avatar:
Something really special about profiles on HF is that we’re all allowed to express ourselves. Avatars help us accomplish that goal. When thinking of members on the site, I remember a person’s avatar as much, if not more, than I remember their name. That small rectangle is where we can show the community what we are all about, and it’s a big bonus that this social board has them. It adds a level of personality to the site that is not always available on social media.

Reputation:
Reputation seems to be a general indicator of quality, but not a definitive one. Almost everyone has a visible number in their profile, and that number gives you a slight idea of a person’s tenure and activity. I believe what’s more important than the number is the message attached to each reputation listing. If you are lucky, you may have someone post an opinion on what they think of you or your business behavior in their reputation message. Although there are varying degrees of seriousness in reputation messages, I always cherish the ones where someone took the time to sincerely comment on my personality or behavior. Reputation pages serve to show the user how they’ve affected the experience of a fellow user on the site, either positive of negative. In due time, the pages begin to take form based on your actions.

Awards:
Awards are a great feature created by Omniscient himself. In most cases, only Omniscient can give awards, which means the admin personally recognizes a user for some quality or characteristic. Omniscient seems to distribute awards with much restraint, and I believe that’s a smart move for the site. The elusiveness of awards causes them to be coveted for their rarity, and the rarity of awards causes some people to try harder to contribute to the site than they otherwise would. People appreciate having something that differentiates them from others, and this method of giving awards does well to satisfy the human desire for feeling unique. You may not immediately get the award you want, but the fun is in the chase. Don’t give up, keep a positive outlook towards the situation, and you may one day have the award of your dreams.

Punitive system:
This site dishes out punishment in a variety of forms. Warnings, bans, rep kills, and closures are the main weapons on the table, and they all see some usage. Justice on HF, as with much of the internet, is somewhat of an old-western justice system. The sheriff (Omniscient) and his deputies (staff) make judgement calls based on their discretion. Whether or not you think justice has been served, it’s ultimately out of our hands. However, from what I have witnessed, it seems like justice usually catches up to those that are in need of a serving. Fairness is relative, but I believe the forum team strives to make things here as fair as they can.

Personal development:
If Hack Forums cannot spark a flame within you to better yourself, then you may be in the wrong community. Although talent seems to be few and far between at times, I hope you have met someone here that is better than you at a certain skill. The users with talent inspire me to become better at their trade, and it’s paying off. I’ve begun looking into educational material that I would have otherwise never touched.

For me, even posting provides educational value. As I type something, I may begin to wonder about using a particular word or grammatical element. Given that desire to learn, I have now built up a bookmark-folder in my browser with 99 separate entries related to English grammar and vocabulary. As time goes on, the list will only continue to grow. If it was not for posting on Hack Forums, I would likley not have been faced with many situations which called for such research.

Groups:
Groups seem to bring both a positive and negative element to the forum. For the negative, I believe they dilute activity by encouraging members to post in their subforums. One post in a group lounge is one less post in HF’s general lounge where all can enjoy. From that perspective, I view groups as somewhat of a drain on the site. However, some groups use their concerted effort to give back to the site through other forums of contribution, so it’s not all bad.

When it comes to positive aspects, I believe there are many. Groups provide a sense of unity, purpose, and belonging. Groups allow members to come together over an idea and work to further a shared cause. Sometimes, the cause is not only in the group’s interest, but in the interest of Hack Forums as well. Groups are a great and effective way to bring users together on a forum, and for that reason, I believe they serve as an overall positive influence on the site.

There is definitely room for growth in the group scene; groups can be better than they are now. However, it takes the right leadership and a lot of dedication to really make a group mean something. Groups are much more than a one-man effort, and effectively coordinating them can be tough to do online. With that said, I hope every group maximizes its potential on the forum, and I wish everyone the best of luck in reaching that point of greatness for their group.

[Night Fury]

Users:
For this section, I want to comment on a list of users I’ve encountered over my time here. I think all of these users have helped to shape my experience, and I’m thankful to have met them.

List (Click to View)
Staff:

Omniscient:
I think you’re a level-headed guy for the amount of people you manage. Owning a site with millions of users is probably really fun because it proves you and your site are successful, but having many of those users vying for your attention probably grows exhausting. Despite that, when people reach out to you through PMs, you do well to read and respond to their messages. Whenever I’ve sent you something that merited a response, you have not let me down.

There’s something I really admire about you: you do well to think outside yourself and reward people based on characteristics you believe they possess. Many people are so self-centered that they won’t take a moment to recognize the characteristics that other people possess, but you go out of your way to give. It’s really flattering to be recognized by anyone, but the additional awards and positions you offer make the recognition that much sweeter. I suppose the site could function without you giving anyone recognition, but the input you provide to others gives the site a warmer atmosphere.

You have all the power on this site, but I’ve noticed you practice some restraint when interacting with others. You said your New Year’s resolution for 2016 was to be nicer to people, and I believe you’ve succeeded in that goal. There’s always more room for growth, but from what I’ve seen, you are the best version of yourself that you have yet to be. Congratulations on the success that HF has become, and hopefully I’ll be able to see more improvements from you down the line.

Skorp:
You are my go-to staff member and one of the most relaxed guys on this site. You don’t post often, but I see you tend to your staff duties daily. I really appreciate the humble and friendly personality you possess. You’ve been nothing but courteous to me through our interactions, and I appreciate it greatly. You are definitely a great fit for staff, and one of Omni’s best choices.

Members:

!!* Alone Vampire *!!:
You were my first go-to staff member. You were a great help, and I appreciate your efforts for the time you served on the forum team. Whether staff or not, you have always been a pleasant person to me. Keep up the great work with Red Lions.

Ariana/Tsundere: I’m surprised we’ve been such good friends for so long! I had no clue you’d end up being such a good person to talk to about music and life. I know you were planning on leaving the forum for a while, but I’m glad you stuck around. Your first self-ban served as the reason we really got to know each other, so you don’t need to do another one.

Career: You’re part of the gamertag fam from way back. I know you ignored me when I was a regular member, but I appreciate you talking to me now. We’re both pretty much over the GT scene, but it was fun for a while.

ClarkTheCoder: It was just by chance that I happened to meet you right before you left HF. You are an extremely nice guy and offer some solid insight on situations. Good luck with your education and the next steps in your life.

Clique: I don’t know if I’ve ever met someone as mellow as you. You are ultra-relaxed in every aspect of life, so it’s interesting to hear from you. You’ve been a great help for getting me ready to build a custom PC. This is the year it’s going to happen.

F‌iber: You seem to be really dedicated to the group scene, and that’s great. If you weren’t so dedicated, we would have never met. Congrats on all the leadership positions you’ve held, and thank you for inviting me to Riptide when you were a leader. That invite got me into music again, and overall served to better my life. I’m glad you came back after your vacation ban.

futana: You were my very first contact on Skype. We had a strange friendship but it was fun while it lasted. I feel the forum is very much a part of you, so I’m sure you are around here somewhere. Hopefully life is treating you well.

Hexicidal: You provide a lot of good insight. We don’t see eye-to-eye politically, but there are many other areas where we relate. Thank you for getting me into the group scene, and thank you for being a good friend. Your actions did much to shape my journey.

Lithe: It was such a surprise receiving a PM from you that one day. That PM did so much to lift my spirits, and I still appreciate it. We’ve become pretty good friends since then. I’m glad I was able to get you the emerald before someone else did. I hope you let me know how school goes for you next year.

mael: We’re so close that I even know how to pronounce your name. Really though, thanks for the kind words you’ve offered. Your music is cool, and I enjoy your presence on the forum. You’re very lucky to live where you live.

Moeseph: You’re Echo’s greatest leader, right? I think you’ve done well to change the image of Echo for the better. You are also a really funny guy. Somebody has to flame on the site, and you have taken the responsibility upon yourself to grill nerds. Keep up the great work.

Motiv: We connected over a very random topic, but it’s been cool. I’ve been able to watch you achieve great heights on the forum. Right now, you seem to be dealing with more important things outside of the internet, but you still make it over to SRPP from time to time. I hope you’re still pursuing your true passions.

Mr. Trvp: We met because of the lounge, but eventually got to talking about much greater stuff than what is offered there. Thanks for writing that userscript for me, and for the advice on programming. You may have found some other websites to spend the majority of your time, but I’m glad you still visit HF.

muzzy.: I still don't know that much about you, but you give off an aura of cool. I appreciate you supporting the news in your signature for the entire time I've known you, and for being an active member within Dawn through all our transitions.

Nevieth: I’m glad we got to talking after I commented on your contributions in the innuendo section. You offered a lot of good advice there, so I look forward to seeing how you do with Dawn.

Ninetales.: Thank you for believing in me. I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to be a part of your investment. You are a chill dude, and it’s always nice to drop in and see how you’re doing. I hope we’ll be able to stay in contact even as you get busier and busier with life.

Novica: Wow, I can’t believe how much I’ve come to know you. You are a great friend, and it all started with a PM about graphics. You sure know how to write. We’ve sent essays back and forth, and I’ve truly enjoyed every one of them. Congratulations on all your success on the forum, and for not letting any of it get to your head. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for you.

Raddify: I appreciate you reaching out to me to ask for advice. I’m glad to hear you took some of it and improved your life. I’m sure you’ll do great things one day if you run for political office.

Remix: Thank you for helping Dawn when you were in the group. I guess you ended up being a little too much for the forum, but I enjoyed your presence while you were here. You said you are now free, so I hope you enjoy your newfound freedom.

Roytoy: I enjoy our discussions in Echo. The group really benefits from having someone like you in there. You're also a pretty talented video editor, and you make some solid content.

Sejskaler: You were what I needed to get going in art. Thank you for all the encouraging words and for reaching out to me when you did. It’s fun sending the occasional message to you and getting into all matters of life. I also appreciate that you ask for my input on your art. You are going to be one of the greats someday.

Soulmatе: I’m really glad you took notice of me. I have enjoyed getting to know you, and I must say that you’re very easy to get along with. You have a very interesting life and share some pretty cool pictures on Snapchat. I hope that Equilibrium works out for the best.

Slаde: I appreciate the appreciation. You seemed like the HF News bot for a while, so it’s only right you’re finally part of the crew. I also want to note that you have great taste in friends.

Vanilla: Our common interest brought us together. You are actually the most recent friend I’ve made on the site. You are a really nice guy, and I enjoy talking with you. Let’s see where that leads.

ωolf: Although you disappeared from the internet, you were nice while you were here. Thanks for letting me be part of your Wolf Gang.

zomgjulie: You also disappeared from the site, but you were a very mature member while you were here. You were one of the few actual females on HF, and you left a good impression on the members in The Black Lodge. I hope that wherever you are, you’re happy.

Final thoughts:
My only regret for HF is that I didn’t find the site sooner. This community has been like a family to me, and I’m truly grateful to be here. The site has helped me in a lot of ways, so I will always do my best to help the site in return. Thank you, Omniscient, for creating this place. No matter where I’ve traveled, HF has served as a home to me. It has provided for a great experience on almost every day I’ve visited. To everyone on HF, I enjoy being a part of this community with you. See you all around the forum.

[Career]

This is by far one of the best feedback threads I've ever had the privilege to read. I would like to personally thank you for the mention. You know I consider you a very good friend of mine and I will always be here for you. I too regret not finding this site sooner. I think I speak for all, if not most of us when I say that Hack Forums is our daily drug. Thank you for this well-written feedback thread, Fury.

[Roytoy]

Night Fury being the HQ member that he is. Thanks a lot for the shoutout. What a great feedback thread indeed.
HF is rich because it has valuable members like you. Don't ever leave!
One of the most high quality people on HF.

[Nevieth]

What a phenomenal feedback thread Night Fury! Once again proving you're one of the highest quality and nicest members on HF. :)

Love it.

[Invictum]

As somebody who hasn't been here long this was a nice perspective to read up on, it made me think about the quality of the forum more than I would have otherwise. Thanks for this!

[Mαxim]

Can't believe I read it all. My favourite parts:

We on HF have it better than most online. This site is a cut above the rest.

Everyone is an equal here, and nothing is inherited. Who you become is solely based on your actions. You have the opportunity to shape your legacy.

The only reason why I read it is because your feedback thread is actually a feedback thread. You did not mainly focus on useless shoutouts and groups. Thanks for sharing.

[Brendan]

Night Fury, staying classy as always. Great feedback thread.

[Katarina Du Couteau]

The reason why I like you so much, is because of your true High Quality.
Just look at your reps given, almost no negs :)

[Raddify]

Thank you so much for including me in being apart of your journey. It is crazy for me to think how different my life would've been if I didn't meet you. It sounds weird but oh well :)

[Parks]

I always loved your avatar and I remember you for it as well. Great feedback thread.

[fannas1]

Now that is what you call quality. Well done Night Fury. I am guilty of not posting that much and this thread really is inspiring.

[Brendan]

Now that is what you call quality. Well done Night Fury. I am guilty of not posting that much and this thread really is inspiring.

I kind of choked when I saw those awards.

[Clique]

Nice feedback bruddah and thanks for the kind words!